if you use a php page you can save data from the blackberry by calling a php-page with a parameter i.e. "http://yoursever.com/sendData.php?"+data .
the php-page writes all parameters into a sql databse.
that's okay to put small strings into a database - it is not performant nor secure.

if you write yourself a server or use webservices: you don't need a BES as long as you can reach them from the internet.
Having a BES adds the encryption and let you use a server in your lan, less work for you and more security.